Although the Vancouver Canucks forward let go of the puck to perform his own version of the spin-o-rama, it did not lose forward momentum and had Burrows scored the goal would have counted, former NHL referee Kerry Fraser wrote on TSN.ca.

Going up against Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick, the Vancouver Canucks forward stopped, lifted his stick off the ice, spun around and stick-handled the puck before ripping it off the crossbar.

But because the puck did not come to a complete stop, even though Burrows did, the shot attempt was permitted.

As creative as the move was, it didn’t help the Canucks any as they ended up losing the skills contest.

COYOTES SALE ANNOUNCEMENT WEDNESDAY ... OR THURSDAY?

The finish line for Greg Jamison and his purchase of the Phoenix Coyotes is finally in sight.

The deal will be completed either Wednesday or Thursday, according to the Phoenix Business Journal, citing sources familiar with the situation.

The city of Glendale, Ariz., gave Jamison and his group a Jan. 31 deadline to purchase the team in order to take advantage of a 20-year, $308 million arena deal approved by the city in November.

The sale would end a three-year ownership saga that began when the NHL bought the club for $140 million in 2009. It also ensures the team will not relocate.

Jamison, a former San Jose Sharks CEO, has been trying to procure the funds to purchase the team since announcing his intention to buy the Coyotes in 2011.

NIEDERREITER FRUSTRATED

A week after asking the New York Islanders for a trade, prospect Nino Niederreiter opened up about his awkward situation with the team that drafted him fifth overall in 2010.

“It was really frustrating,” Niederreiter told ProHockeyTalk.com. “I had a really tough season last year. I wasn’t playing much, I played low minutes and obviously it wasn’t the game I wanted to play. I still learned a lot, I was really happy to have that chance to play a full season in the NHL already.

“This summer I was working hard and I was trying to prepare myself for the next chance and it was frustrating I didn’t get the chance but that’s out of my control.”

Before Wednesday’s matches, Niederreiter stood third in the AHL with 19 goals and 12th in points with 36 for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

“I’m trying to focus on what I can control and what I can control is on the ice. The rest I leave for my agent. Whatever he think is best for me he should just do that.”

BRIEFLY

Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza missed Tuesday’s game against the Washington Capitals with an upper-body injury ... The Edmonton Oilers placed goaltender Yann Danis on waivers and could activate Nikolai Khabibulin as early as Wednesday. The team also put forward Ben Eager on injured reserve for a concussion and activated defenceman Theo Peckham ... Detroit Red Wings defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo was back on the ice after sitting out eight days with a sprained acromioclavicular joint in his shoulder. He’s still not cleared for practice ... Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Michal Rozsival is day-to-day with a lower-body injury ... Penguins defenceman Matt Niskanen is out two-to-four weeks with a lower-body injury ... Despite recording zero points in five games, the Buffalo Sabres are keeping rookie Mikhail Grigorenko around, burning the first year of his entry-level contract. The Russian forward was drafted 12th overall in the 2012 NHL draft.